Chapter 27—Mastication
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 51-52
Masticate slowly, and allow the saliva to mingle with the food
In order to secure healthy digestion, food should be eaten slowly.
Those who wish to avoid dyspepsia, and those who realize their obli-
gation to keep all their powers in a condition which will enable them to
render the best service to God, will do well to remember this. If your
time to eat is limited, do not bolt your food, but eat less, and masticate
slowly. The benefit derived from food does not depend so much on
the quantity eaten, as on its thorough digestion; nor the gratification of
taste so much on the amount of food swallowed, as on the length of
time it remains in the mouth.
The Ministry of Healing, 305
Food should be eaten slowly, and should be thoroughly masticated.
This is necessary, in order that the saliva may be properly mixed with
the food, and the digestive fluids be called into action.
Manuscript 3, 1897
Great care should be taken when the change is made from a flesh-
meat to a vegetarian diet to supply the table with wisely prepared,
well-cooked articles of food. So much porridge eating is a mistake.
The dry food that requires mastication is far preferable. The health
food preparations are a blessing in this respect. Good brown bread and
rolls, prepared in a simple manner yet with painstaking effort will be
healthful. Bread should never have the slightest taint of sourness. It
should be cooked until it is most thoroughly done. Thus all softness
and stickiness will be avoided.
For those who can use them, good vegetables, prepared in a health-
ful manner, are better than soft mushes or porridge. Fruits used with
thoroughly cooked bread two or three days old will be more health-
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